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Mendo Lake Family Life

10 Tips for Choosing the Best Summer Camp

Feb 28, 2023 03:47PM ● By Donna Production

By Denise Morrison Yearian

Summer day camp is a place where children can stretch their minds, exercise their bodies, and develop new friendships and interests. Here are 10 suggestions on how you can choose the right day camp for your child.

1 Look, listen, and learn. Talk with your children to find out what their interests are. As you do, get a list of camps, show them what the options are, and ask if any appeal to them. Need ideas? Come to Sonoma Family Life’s Camp Fair & Family Expo on April 14, 3–7 p.m., in Coddingtown Mall in Santa Rosa. You can collect information about, and talk to representatives from, camps all over the area. There will be free family-friendly entertainment, too. Once you’ve chosen some camps to explore more deeply, talk with people whose children have attended them to find out if they had good experiences.

2 Value in variety. Ask your children if they want to do one activity or have a variety of experiences. A lot of parents think they have to be tied down to one camp, but it is okay to send your children to different places. 

3 Consider your family’s needs. If you have two working parents with set schedules, this may be a factor in determining where to send your children. Check to see if the program you are considering has before- and after-care. Also ask if friends in similar situations want to put their kids in the same program so you can coordinate rides.

4 Focus on friendships. Friendships are an important part of camp so factor that into your decision. The focus of day camp is to have fun and learn skills, and a lot of that is done through face-to-face interaction with peers. Have your children go with a friend but encourage them to make new friends there.

5 Look at location. Most families want a camp close to home or work or one somewhere along the way, but convenience shouldn’t be the only consideration. If your child has a specific interest and there isn’t a program close by, it may be worth driving a few miles out of the way to get what you’re looking for.

6 Ponder program length. Day camps run from several hours to a full day, so consider your children’s ages, developmental levels, and previous camp or group-setting experiences when looking at the program’s duration. Find out how many activities will be done in a day and determine if your kids can keep up the pace. If you still have reservations, ask the camp director what she or he suggests.

7 Ask key questions. Safety is a top priority, so find out what the counselor-to-camper ratio is. The American Camping Association suggests 1:8 for ages 6–8, 1:10 for ages 9–14, and 1:12 for ages 15–18. Also look at hiring practices: How old are the staff members? Have background checks been done on them? How many hours of camp training do they have? And how many are CPR and safety certified? Many times an overseeing organization’s accreditation or certification covers health, safety, and staff issues, as well as the quality of the program. Ask if the camp is certified or accredited, and then find out exactly what that means.

8 Check out cost. When examining fees, make sure you’re comparing apples to apples. Some day camps have a base price but charge extra for field trips, special activities, materials, registration, and food. Also ask about a refund policy or transfer of weeks if there is an unforeseen illness or emergency. If the camp is more than you can afford, find out if there is a scholarship program.

9 Plan a pre-visit. If an open house is available, try to attend, even if your child previously went to the camp. It’s an excellent opportunity to meet and discuss things with counselors. If that’s not possible, give yourself a few extra minutes at the start of camp to meet the staff and share information you think is important. 

10 Peruse policies and procedures. Most camps have a parent handbook or policies and procedures manual. So if you’re undecided on a camp, ask for a copy to see if you agree with the rules and regulations set forth. It’s equally important to go over this information with your children so they know and agree to the expectations. ϖ

Denise Morrison Yearian is the former editor of two parenting magazines and the mother of three children.